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CD REVIEW: Tim Hirons - Laugh At Everything
By Chip Withrow
Artist: Tim Hirons
Album: Laugh At Everything
Website: http://www.timhirons.com
Genre: Acoustic Folk/Rock
Technical Grade: 8/10
Overall Talent Level: 10/10
Songwriting Skills: 9/10
Performance Skill: 10/10
Best Songs: Drinking With Mona, Uneven Shoes, Rain Go Away
CD Review: Just have to say to get this started that the infectious power pop tune "Drinking With Mona" on this disc is one of the best, most addictive songs I've heard in a long while.
I love albums like this: one-person bands who really can do it all. Tim Hirons plays every instrument and sings every note on Laugh at Everything, and he has crafted a catchy, jammy jazz/funk/rock/pop/soul set.
Interestingly, Hirons chooses to open with a song totally unlike any other on the album: the jazzy folk/rag of "Feedback." His singing ranges from a hipster's croon to a falsetto, and he pumps out some rolling piano. Then "Uneven Shoes" roars out next, full of big punchy chords and melodic heavy metal hero-meets-Allman Brothers guitar solos.
"Ramone," with percolating organ and wah-wah guitar, is one of several jazz/funk-infused numbers. "Sweet Little Missy" is of a similar vibe but more bopping jazz, with deft acoustic picking and subtly cool percussion. "There Was Lisa" is slinky, with sultry backing vocals and stinging Robert Cray-style blues/soul guitar.
"Rain Go Away" is almost as infectious as "Drinking With Mona" – hypnotic bass hand percussion, slick and speedy acoustic work and soaring vocals. Hirons also fires off some driving blues harp here (more on "Mona").
Hirons is a heck of a vocalist, and the lyrically image-rich "When It Rains In Vegas" is a vocal showcase: a funky bass vocal line anchors most of the song, and the lead vocal is finger-popping clever.
"Old Red Wine" is a unique standout: more countrified than most of the disc (owing largely to the strummed acoustic versus slide guitar dynamic). And it has a '70s attitude like a good Eagles or Steve Miller hit. "That Girl" also has that laid-back approach; it's a vocally sweet acoustic blues with a bonus touch when Hirons returns to the striding piano style of the first cut.
The title track brings the disc to a close in anthemic style, with big washes of piano chords, a bright chorus, guitar virtuosity and a useful life message (even a carefree whistling solo to drive home the point).
I like the craftsmanship here: I don't know how much mixing and mastering went into the final product, but the one-man-making-his-grand-statement feeling is authentic on Laugh At Everything.
- MusesMuse.com
"This guy plays funk, folk, blues, and rock in a way that's
worth a listen. With many original songs, the play is not only toe tappingly good, it makes you feel like you're on the leading edge of something bigger."
- Tim Hirons Reviewed by Ed Warmus
Discography
Tim Hirons has an extensive catalog of original songs. He has had 3 songs appear in two different feature films, and another song included in a nationally released A&E documentary.
His cd's in order of most recent release include:
Lighten up the Load (coming soon!)
Laugh At Everything
A Rocket Made For Me and You
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Tim Hirons is an accomplished singer/songwriter and entertainer. What sets him apart is his ability to take a small one-man show and dramatically capture the attention of audiences large or small. His skills on the guitar and keys are top-notch. His vocals are clean and powerful. His well-crafted songs are creatively presented in a thought provoking collection of folk, funk, rock, and blues.
Tim's work has been compared to the craftiness of John Prine, the rhythm of Paul Simon, the guitar playing of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jerry Garcia, the piano playing of Jerry Lee Lewis, and the vocal stylings of Glenn Phillips. Years of writing and performing have helped Tim mold these influences into a unique sound and style capable of impressing even the toughest of critics.
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